Does change in industries hamper prospects? | Alekhya Chakraborty, Brand Manager- Vivel, ITC | Unilever

Every MBA student has one pressing question, will a change in industries hamper their prospects? At the recently concluded IGNITE- The Spark to your Dreams, all MBA aspirants posed this one question to the attending recruiters. 

Alekhya Chakraborty, Brand Manager- Vivel, ITC | Unilever | Emami | MakeMyTrip, having traversed through E-Commerce and FMCG, shared his thoughts. He talks about his experience and how the change in industries has affected him. He wanted to get into FMCG Brand Marketing since his MBA days. However, things took a slightly different turn and he started his Managerial career with a leading e-commerce company in a marketing capacity. His stint there taught him a lot in the world of online marketing. These were things like Display, Social, and Search, which he wasn’t as well-versed in.

His passion to work with an FMCG as a Brand Marketeer kept calling him and he kept applying. In the process he would ask himself, how will he pitch himself in that particular job role?  It is then that he realized that his experience in the e-commerce industry gave him an edge. He stood apart from any other Brand Marketeer out there! His experience in online marketing from the e-commerce industry played to his advantage.

He goes on to explain that back in 2010 he had the foresight that digital marketing will continue to grow its roots in every industry. So, that's how he started pitching himself and that's how he perceived his interviewing organization. In retrospect, he feels that he has gotten better as a Brand Marketeer. He says if one looks back at a typical FMCG Brand Marketeer irrespective of their professional experience, they will largely think of ATL marketing and then think of digital. Alekhya says that with every brand that he has managed so far, he makes it a point to spend time on Digital as well. 

This has been inculcated in him by his stint at the e-commerce company. This is what has always helped him make better, more effective marketing strategies. He says that one has to learn to find a unique solution and make it their strength. This is exactly how he went about it and since then, there has been no looking back! 

He concludes by sharing a few words of advice to every Young Business Leader out there. He says, if post your MBA you get into an industry which was not your first choice, give yourself a little bit of time. 6-12 months of time. Figure out if you are in the right place with respect to your skill set before going for a change in industries. Also, think about what you want to do as a professional.

If you have identified that this is not for you, then change. Don’t leave it for later. Do it within 8-14 months of your Campus. 

He also says that if you are in sales and want to get into Brand Marketing profile, use your Sales exposure. You must pitch it to the FMCGs or a consumer deliverables company into the Sales division itself. Then earn your stripes within the company by doing value adds within the business. And then aspire to join the marketing division. 

He says he has seen people do that as well. He closes by using a line from the movies. "If you want something badly enough, the entire universe conspires to make it happen".